Like many high school student-athletes, you may have dreams of playing big-time college athletics. You have probably envisioned making the game winning shot or the critical stop on fourth and one, hitting a grand slam, or crossing the finish line - setting a new school record. These are moments that serve as motivators to continue athletic competition at the collegiate level. While it's great to Dream Big, you must have the ability to Think Big and Play Big™ in order to get the attention of college recruiters. As you may know, your chances of being offered an athletic scholarship are slim. However, with the right information and tools, you can increase your odds of being recruited by college scouts or given an opportunity to earn a position on a team. Regardless of what your coach, parents/guardians, friends, and community think about your athletic ability, the final decision regarding scholarships rests with college coaches. The market is flooded with websites devoted to recruiting and skill evaluation. While some of these services can be beneficial, they can be costly and uninformative. The Cole Group is NOT a recruiting service. We provide consulting and training services for you and your parents/guardians, coaches, school counselors, principals, and teachers about YOUR needs - academically, personally/socially, vocationally, and athletically. Our goal is to educate you and your family about: Balancing Academics and Athletics The recruiting process and preparation The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) The NCAA Clearinghouse and Initial Eligibility Common myths about college athletics Obtaining an athletic scholarship - realities and myths Life Skills and Character Development Establishing positive relationships with your school counselor and coach Selecting the best college for your academic and athletic skill level Making the most of your high school career Managing stress, peer pressure, and unrealistic expectations Playing professional sports - realities and myths Transitioning out of sports Creating a Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Calendar Developing and Managing your academic plan Building an Athletic Resume The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA or JUCO) To give you some idea of your chances of competing beyond the high school level, a chart created by the NCAA has been provided below. Student-Athletes Men's Basketball Women's Basketball Football Baseball Men's Ice Hockey Men's Soccer High School Student Athletes 546,335 452,929 1,071,775 470,671 36,263 358,935 High School Senior Student Athletes 156,096 129,408 306,221 134,477 10,361 102,553 NCAA Student Athletes 16,571 15,096 61,252 28,767 3,973 19,793 NCAA Freshman Roster Positions 4,735 4,313 17,501 8,219 1,135 5,655 NCAA Senior Student Athletes 3,682 3,355 13,612 6,393 883 4,398 NCAA Student Athletes Drafted 44 32 250 600 33 76 Percent High School to NCAA 3.0% 3.3% 5.7% 6.1% 11.0% 5.5% Percent NCAA to Professional 1.2% 1.0% 1.8% 9.4% 3.7% 1.7% Percent High School to Professional 0.03% 0.02% 0.08% 0.45% 0.32% 0.07% Note: These percentages are based on estimated data and should be considered approximations of the actual percentages. For more information, please click here. Copyright © 2010 The Cole Group, LLC Designed & Powered By